But how that fandom of his past has shaped his present isn't lost on many, including Rodgers himself. He noted that Steve Young, the 49er quarterback legend and Hall of Famer who won the franchise's last Super Bowl, has been a mentor to him recently.

And who better, really? Young, like Rodgers, came into a situation where a franchise quarterback was already in place in the form of Joe Montana. And, like Rodgers, Young thrived as soon as he was given the reins of the team. Now, Rodgers has a chance to complete the circle and add one more likeness of his story to Young's, even after watching Brett Favre command many of the same teammates he now leads.

"Steve won a Super Bowl. Hopefully I can add my name to that list," Rodgers said Tuesday. "I never thought of (taking over for Favre) as the tall task you all did. I just saw it as an opportunity."

Part of that point of view came from his experience as a 49ers fan, since he could easily relate his situation to Young's. He declined to go into specifics about conversations he and Young have had — "Those are personal between Steve and I" — but he was sure to point out he has leaned on him for advice.

"Steve obviously went through a similar situation," said Rodgers, whose No. 12 is the exact average of Young's 8 and Montana's 16. "I was a huge Joe Montana fan up until he retired. After he retired, to play the way Steve played and picked up right where he left off and won an MVP and won a Super Bowl É It's been great to get to know him as a friend now."

Rodgers' father, Ed, has been dealing with his fair share of attention the past week as well, but it hasn't been lost on him that his middle son is receiving tutelage from the man he watched defeat the Chargers in the Super Bowl following the 1994 season.

"It's pretty surreal, pretty crazy," Ed Rodgers said. "I appreciate that Steve Young's been real nice, real encouraging, and how it's come full circle. It seems like he was always a great teammate, and now a nice mentor."

The way Rodgers has played has spoken volumes about his preparation, but often overlooked is that he not once caused a rift of any sort while sitting behind Favre. Part of that was due to how No. 4 was playing — likewise, Montana's play ahead of Young was equally deserved before the 49ers let Montana go — but the other part was, Aaron Rodgers said, that he took the stance early on that patience would pay off.

Even if his boyhood-favorite team picked Utah's Alex Smith over him, letting Rodgers slide to the No. 24 pick in the draft.

"I just think that's been a part of my story," Rodgers said. "Waiting for my opportunity and then trying to make the most of it. I just always trusted God that my time was coming, and when my time did come, that I'd make the most of it."

Packers head coach Mike McCarthy, who was on the 49ers' staff when they opted to skip Rodgers in the draft, said it was among his first orders of business to clear the air with his quarterback when he got to Green Bay. Rodgers coyly brought it up at Media Day on Tuesday.

"There was a scout for the 49ers named Mike McCarthy who also passed on me," Rodgers said. "He has since apologized."

That playful dig aside, the snub by the Niners hasn't made Rodgers go vocal about the way the draft panned out. Many believe his years on the bench learning the Packers' system enabled him to be in his position today, instead of being immediately requested to run a mediocre team as Smith had to do with the 49ers. Instead, he quietly carried the clipboard and wore the team hat the way all back-ups do, and has quickly made his impact since Favre left.

"I'm proud of him," Ed Rodgers said. "He's paid his dues, he's been patient, he's held a good character throughout and taken the high road. He's getting his reward for the kind of person he's been."